Generic diagnosis

Macropterous, hemimacropterous, micropterous or apterous Phlaeothripinae that induce galls on Acacia phyllodes. Head longer than wide, sometimes elongate; postocular setae present or absent; maxillary stylets usually one-third of head width apart, sometimes retracted to postocular setae. Antennae 8-segmented, III with one sense cone, IV with 2 or 3 sense cones. Pronotum varying from transverse to longer than wide, notopleural sutures complete; major setae variable, most species with antero-marginal setae no longer than discals. Prosternal basantra not developed; ferna varying from oval to transverse; mesopresternum usually absent medially; metathoracic sternopleural sutures long. Metanotal median setae usually small. Fore tarsal tooth large. Fore femora commonly swollen; fore tibiae with or without tubercle at inner apex. Fore wing pale with 2 capitate sub-basal setae; duplicated cilia present. Female sometimes with abdominal intersegmental membranes grossly swollen; pelta usually elongate triangular; tergites with reticulate sculpture laterally, II–VII with 2 pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae, often reduced on VII; tergite IX setae S1 and S2 capitate; tube usually shorter than head. Male sternite VIII with or without pore plate; tergite IX setae S2 similar to or longer than S1 setae.

Nomenclatural data

Kladothrips Froggatt, 1906: 1011. Type species Kladothrips rugosus Froggatt, 1906, by monotypy.

There are 24 species recognised in this genus.

Australian species
Kladothrips acaciae (Moulton, 1968: 109)
Kladothrips antennatus (Moulton, 1968: 103)
Kladothrips arotrum (Mound, 1971: 447)
Kladothrips augonsaxxos Moulton, 1927: 153
Kladothrips ellobus Mound, 1971: 424
Kladothrips habrus (Mound, 1971: 442)
Kladothrips hamiltoni Mound & Crespi, 1995: 148
Kladothrips harpophyllae Mound, Crespi & Kranz, 1996: 1179
Kladothrips intermedius Bagnall, 1929: 196
Kladothrips kinchega (Wills, Chapman, Mound, Kranz & Schwarz, 2004: 171)
Kladothrips maslini Mound, Crespi & Kranz, 1996: 1181
Kladothrips morrisi Mound, Crespi & Kranz, 1996: 1185
Kladothrips nicolsoni McLeish Chapman & Mound, 2006: 561
Kladothrips pilbara Mound, Crespi & Kranz, 1996: 1194
Kladothrips rodwayi Hardy, 1916: 102
Kladothrips rugosus Froggatt, 1906: 1011
Kladothrips schwarzi Mound, Crespi & Kranz, 1996: 1187
Kladothrips sterni (Mound, Crespi & Kranz, 1996: 1189)
Kladothrips tepperi (Uzel, 1905: 99)
Kladothrips torus (Mound, Crespi & Kranz, 1996: 1191)
Kladothrips waterhousei (Mound & Crespi, 1995: 152)
Kladothrips xiphius Mound, Crespi & Kranz, 1996: 1182
Kladothrips yalgoo Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 253
Kladothrips zygus (Mound, Crespi & Kranz, 1996: 1196)

Relationship data

Presumably derived within the Liothrips-lineage of Phlaeothripinae, molecular data suggests that this genus of gall-inducing species is related particularly to genera of opportunist species, including Dactylothrips, that are structurally very different.

Distribution data

Known only from Australia, with various species found widely across the continent on particular Acacia species in the semi-arid area and two species in the moister forests of eastern Australia.

Biological data

All species in this genus induce galls on the phyllodes of species of Acacia, each species usually inducing a particular type of gall, ranging from regular spheres, to tubes, to irregular leaf rolls.

References

Crespi BJ, Morris DC & Mound LA (2004) Evolution of ecological and behavioural diversity: Australian Acacia thrips as model organisms. Australian Biological Resources Study & Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra, Australia, pp. 1–328.